Ink-well.



No 836,366. I PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

J. A. CUNNINGHAM.

INK WELL. APPLICATION FILED AUG.17. 1906.

2 sums-sum 1 WITNESSES: LEZZIZALZM'W' lid/72 INVENTOR.

m I A TTORNE Y5 THE NORRIS FETEKS c0, WASHINGTON, n 1:.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

INK-WELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed August 1'7, 1906. Serial No 831.068.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. CUNNINGHAM, a cltizen of the United States, residing at South Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Ink-Well, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ink-wells; and its ob ect is to provide means for limiting the movement of a pen while being inserted into the well, so as to prevent too large an area of the pen and its holder from coming into contact with the ink, said means being also capable for use as a closure for the ink-well.

A still further object is to provide an ink well which is so shaped interiorly as to permit the stop device to assume a position therein where it will not interfere with the use of all of the ink contained within the well.

A still further object is to provide a stop which is of novel construction, which can be readlly manipulated, and which will not injure the point of the pen contacting therewith.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of an ink-well having a recess in the bottom thereof in which a stop device of peculiar construction is adapted to be seated. This stop device consists of a slotted base having a top covering of rubber or other material which is detachably fastened in the slot. A threaded stem projects from the base of the stop and is slidably mounted within a cover adapted to be placed on the well. Means are provided whereby this stem cannot rotate within the cover, but said stem and the stop device connected to it are adjustable vertically bymeans of a device provided for that purpose. An opening for the reception of pens is formed in the cover and by adjusting the stop device the stem can be brought into position to close said opening.

The invention also consists of certain other novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described. and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through the ink-well and showing by dotted lines the position which the stop may assume in the bottom recess. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the well with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cover. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the stop and its stem. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the stop. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a modified form ofink-well. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the upstanding fiange of the ink-well shown in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the stop.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 is a well having a concave bottom 2 provided. at the center with a recess 3 for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

A circular flange 4 is disposed around the upper or open end of the well and constitutes a seat for a cover 5. An opening 6 is formed within the cover, and a screw-threaded stem 7 is slidably mounted within this opening and extends upward from the base 8 of a stop 9. This base is shaped to fit snugly within the recess 3 and has a slot 10 extending into one side thereof, said slot being contracted at a point between its'ends, as shown at 11. This slot is adapted to receive and retain a headed lug 12, extending downward from a protecting-strip 13, formed of rubber or other suitable material and which conforms in outline with the base 8 and rests flat thereon. The lug 1.2 is formed of the same material as the strip 13 and is adapted to be compressed when forced. through the conthe stop 9 can be either raised or lowered.

An opening 1.7 is formed within the cover directly above a portion of the stop 9 and is of suflicient size to receive a pen. When the stop is raised against the cover by rotating the nut 16, the same can be brought into position toclose the opening 17 and prevent evaporation of the ink or the admission of dust, &c., thereto. The normal position of the stop 9 is against the cover 5 and closing the opening 17.

When it is desired to use the ink-well, the nut 16 is rotated so as to permit the stop to lower a predetermined distance below the surface of the ink within the well. A pen can then be inserted through the opening 17 until the point thereof contacts with the strip 13. As the supply of ink becomes less the stop can be still farther lowered into the well, and this operation can be continued until said stop becomes seated within the recess 3. When it assumes this position, it will force from said recess any ink which may have accumulated therein, and said ink will assume a position above the stop, where it can be easily contacted by the pen-point.

When the well is not in use, the nut 16 is turned so 'as to draw the stop into position.

to close the opening 17 It is to be understood that the well may be made of any desired size and proportions, and if the same is formed with glass the ink contained within it may be concealed by s1lvering the interior of the well or by surrounding the ink-holding recess with a non-transparent portion containing suitable insignia, initials, &c.

It will be noticed that the cover 5 has a depending flange 18 upon its lower face and around the openings 6 and 17, and this flange constitutes a seat for the strip 13 when the cover is closed thereby.

Instead of constructing the ink-well in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein a removable cover is employed, the ink-well can be of the construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and'7, wherein' the body 19 is frusto-conical and has an integral cover 19 in which is formed an inlet-opening 20, surrounded by an upstanding flange 21. An opening 22 extends downward through the flange and coinmunicates with the opening 20, and slidably mounted in this opening is a stem 23, having its upper portion screw-threaded, as at 24, while its lower portion engages the base 25 of a stop. This stop has an upper covering 26, formed of a strip of rubber or other flexible material, which extends beyond the edges of the base 25. Said base isjof such size as to be readily inserted through the opening 20 and the passage 22, although to insert it it would be necesssary for the strip 26 to fold upward.

A groove 27 is formed longitudinally within the stem and isgadapted to be engaged by a lug 28, extending at right angles from a stem 29, upstanding from flange 21. A hollow nut 30 engages the threaded portion of the stem and bears upon the flange 21, stem 29 and lug 28 bein normally positioned within the nut. The distance between the nut and the front portion of the flange 21 is sufliciently large to permit the insertion of a pen, and as the quantity of ink decreases the nut 30 can be rotated so as to permit the stop 25 to move farther into the well. When it is desired to close the well, the stop is moved upward until the strip 26 contacts with the upper end'of the well, as shown in Fig. 6, where upon the well will be tightly sealed.

The preferred form of the invention has been set forth in the foregoing description; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacri ficing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the claims.

v What is claimed is- 1. The combination with a well and an apertured cover therefor; of a stop adjustably connected to the cover and projecting into the well, said stop constituting a closure for the aperture.

2. The combination with a well; of an apertured cover, a stop, a stem projecting from the stop and through the cover, and means upon the stem for adjusting the stop within the well, said stop adapted to constitute a closure for the aperture.

3. The combination with a well of a cover having a penreceiving aperture therein, a

combined aperture-closure and pen-stop adjustably connected to the cover, and a flexible cover upon said stop.

4. The combination with a well; of a cover having an aperture therein, a stop, a stern upon the stop and extending through the cover, means for adjusting the stem longitudinally to move the stop into position to close the aperture or into position therebe low, and a flexible cover upon the stop.

5. The combination with a well having a recess in the bottom thereof; of a cover having an aperture, a stop adapted to be seated within andabove the recess, and means for adjusting said stop from or toward the cover, said stop adapted to constitute a closure for the aperture.

6. The combination with a well having a recess in the bottom thereof; of a stop adapted to be seated within or supported above the recess, an apertured cover, a threaded stem extending from the stop and through the cover, and means upon the stem for adjusting the stem longitudinally within the cover, said stop adapted to contact with the cover and close the aperture.

7. The combination with a well having a recess in the bottom thereof; of a cover having apertures therein, and an integral depending flange surrounding the apertures, a stem adjustably mounted within one of the apertures, means for adjusting the stem longitudinally, and a stop at one end of the stem and adapted to be seated within or above the recess, said stop comprising a slotted base, a flexible strip, and means within the slot for securing the strip to the base.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, JOHN SoHEw. 

